left 1 of 2

as in liberalism
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

left

2 of 2

verb

past tense of leave
1
2
as in bequeathed
to give by means of a will I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in quitted
to give up (a job or office) he left his job in the city and moved out into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of left
Noun
The big picture: Francis pushed the Catholic Church to the left, which satisfied Catholics seeking modernization but dismayed traditionalists. Aïda Amer, Axios, 21 Apr. 2025 With time, however, Vargas Llosa became disillusioned with the left and came to embrace classical liberalism and free markets. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025 The Clippers took advantage when Ivica Zubac (21 points, 13 rebounds) scored on a layup that was a goaltending call on Aaron Gordon, giving the Clippers a 96-95 lead with 1:11 left. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025 Winds were blowing 19 mph from left to right with a first-pitch temperature of 43 degrees. Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for left
Recent Examples of Synonyms for left
Noun
  • New York’s benevolent liberalism of the Rockefeller years comes off as top-down benevolence, sociological benevolence, experience-free benevolence.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
  • In the mid-twentieth century, however, liberalism began to predominate to such an extent that republicanism, and its concern with the civic consequences of economic choices, largely faded from view.
    Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • They were abandoned in 1959 when outpaced by technology.
    Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In April 2023, Blue Island leveled another complaint against the nonprofit asking a judge to declare the property in violation of the city’s building codes, dangerous, unsafe and abandoned, court records show.
    Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Stars and Golden Knights crushed them in late March, and the Devils handed them another two losses.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As a result, Italy has reportedly handed Meta a bill for €900 million, with smaller claims lodged against the parent companies of X and LinkedIn.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • These chemicals also threaten the water when products containing them are dumped onto the ground or into lakes and rivers.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • That’s when a series of storms dumped a significant amount of rain in Northern California, lifting water levels across the region.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Part of the discussion in court Friday revolved around what will be allowed at the trial regarding a video that aired on CNN last year that showed Combs punching his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2025
  • An Indiana police officer is accused of forcing his six-year-old daughter to stand outside in freezing temperatures holding a sign threatening her brother as punishment for pouting because she was not allowed to wear lip gloss.
    Landon Mion, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • According to a post on the fire department's Instagram, the pet managed to swim to a nearby island, roughly 75 feet offshore, where the dog became stranded.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Helene destroyed homes and roads, stranded residents without phone service and water, and claimed the lives of nearly 250 people throughout the Southeast.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • There are myriad, clear alcohol health risks that can be improved by quitting drinking altogether or lowering alcohol consumption.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • That included taking calculated risks—such as quitting her make-ends-meet career as a registered nurse and declining an early deal with Walmart.
    India Espy-Jones, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The three were transferred to another hospital.
    Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The player had transferred into the program, and his minutes were already waning.
    Sam Blum, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Left.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/left. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on left

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!